DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1130; Directorate Jdentificr 2015-NE-04-ADl 

RIN 2120-AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). 

[491 0-13-P] 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & 

Whitney (PW) PW4164-1D, PW4168-1D, PW4168A-1D and PW4170 engines, and 

certain PW4164, PW4168, and PW4168A turbofan engines. This proposed AD was 

prompted by fuel nozzle-to-fuel supply manifold interface fuel leaks. This proposed AD 

would require inspecting fuel nozzles for signs of leakage, replacing hardware as 

required, and torqueing to specified requirement. We are proposing this AD to prevent 

fuel leaks which could result in engine fire and damage to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by [INSERT DATE 60 

DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE Federal Register]. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 

and 11.45, by any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202-493-2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W 1 2-140, 1200 New Jersey A venue SE., Washington, DC 

20590. 
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Pratt & Whitney, 

400 Main St.. East Hat1ford, CT 06 108; phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-4503. You 

may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. r: AA-20 14- 1130; or in person at the Docket 

Management Faci li ty between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other information. The street add ress for the Docket Office 

(phone : 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the 

AD docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katheryn Malatck, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 0 1803; phone: 781-238-7747; fax: 78 1-238-

7199; email: katheryn.malatek@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written re levant data, views, or arguments about this 

NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

lnclude "Docket No. F AA-2014-11 30: Directorate Identifier 20 15-NE-04-AD" at the 

beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory. 

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 

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comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to 

http://W\vw.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 

also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this 

NPRM. 

Discussion 

We received reports of four fuel nozzle leaks in service and an additional six fuel 

nozzle leaks found during shop visits. The root cause is inadequate torque of the fuel 

nozzle-to-fuel supply manifold B-nuts for the temperatures that the fuel nozzles 

experience. This condition, if not corrected, could result in engine lire and damage to the 

airplane. 

Related Service lnf01·mation under· 1 CFR Part 51 

We reviewed PW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW4G-I 00-A 73-44, dated 

October 10, 2014. This service information contains infom1ation regarding fuel nozzle 

manifold inspection and fuel nozzle-to-fue l supply manifold B-nut torque requirements. 

This service informatio n is reasonably available because the interested parties have 

access to it th rough their nonnal course of business or see ADDRESSES for other ways 

to access this service information. 

FAA's Determination 

We are proposing this NPRM because we evaluated all the relevant infom1ation 

and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 

other products of the same type design. 

· Proposed AD Requirements 

This N PRM would require inspecting the fuel nozzle-to-fuel supply manifold 

interface for evidence of leaks and replacing hardware in cases where fuel leaks are 

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identified. This NPRM also requires torque ing certain B-nuts to the specified 

requirement. 

Differences Between this Pt·oposed AD and the Service Information 

PW ASB No. PW4G-l 00-A 73-44 uses calendar dates for compliance time. This 

NPRM uses cycles. Using cycles from the effective date of the AD supports the intent of 

the ASB and ensures adequate compliance time after the effective date of the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 72 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. We estimate that parts 

replacement will cost about $ 1,356 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost ofthis proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $391,392. 

Authority fot· this Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rul es on 

aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Adminjstrator. 

Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 

authority. 

We are issuing this ru lemaking under the authori ty described in Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44 70 I: "Genera l req uirements." Under that section, Congress 

charges the FAA with promoting safe il ight of civil aircraft in air commerce by 

prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds 

necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products 

identified in this rul emaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13 132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct 

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effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, 

or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 

government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Js not a ·'significant regulatory action·' under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a .. significant rule" under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

( 44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that it justities 

making a regulatory distinction. and 

(4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a 

substanti al number of small entities under the criteria of the Ref,ru latory Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA 

proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as fol lows: 

PART 39 - AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 

I . The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113,44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amendedl 

2. The FA/\ amends§ 39.1 3 by adding the following new airworthiness directive 

(AD): 

Pra tt & Whitney: Docket No. F AA-20 14-1130; Directorate Identifier 20 15-NE-04-AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by (INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN Ti lE federal Register]. 

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(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW4164-1D, PW4168-lD, 

PW4168A-1D and PW4 170 engines; and all PW4l64. PW4168, and PW4168A n1rbofan 

engines that have incorporated either PW Service Bulletin (SB) No. PW4G- I 00-72-214. 

dated December 15, 20I l or PW SB No. PW4G-J 00-72-2 19, Revision I, dated October 

5. 20 11. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by fuel nozzle-to-fuel supply manifold interface fuel 

leaks. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel leaks which could result in engine fire and 

damage to the airplane. 

(c) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. 

(I) Within 800 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, and within every 

800 hours since last inspection thereafter, inspect all fue l nozzle-to-fuel supply man ifold 

interfaces for evidence of fuel leaks, soot, and coke formation. Use the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Part A, ofPW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW4G-I 00-A 73-44, elated 

October 10, 2014 to do the inspections. 

(2) Replace hardware that fa ils an inspection. Use the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Part A, ofPW ASB No. PW4G-1 00-A73-44, dated October I 0, 20 14 to do 

the replacement. 

(f) Mandatory Terminating Action 

( I) Inspect a ll fuel nozzle-to-fuel supply manifold interfaces for fuel leaks, soot, 

and coke formation, replace hardware that fails inspection, and re-torque all fuel nozzleto-fuel supply manifold B-nuts as follows: 

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(i) For engines with fewer than 1,500 cycles on the effective date of this AD, 

before accumulating another 650 cycles, not to exceed 1,900 cycles. 

(ii) For engines with 1,500 cycles or more, but fewer than 2,500 cycles on the 

effective date of this AD, before accumulating another 400 cycles. not to exceed 2,700 

cycles. 

(iii) For engines with 2,500 cycles or more on the effecti ve date of this AD, 

before accumulating another 200 cycles. 

(2) Use the Accomplishment Instructions, Parts B through E, of PW ASB No. 

PW4G-l 00-A 73-44, dated October I 0, 20 14 to do the inspection. replacement, and 

retorqueing. 

(g) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD "cycles" is defined as cycles since new or cycles since 

the incorporation ofPW SB No. PW4G-1 00-72-2 14, dated December 15, 2011 or SB No. 

PW4G-100-72-2 19, Revision 1, dated October 5, 2011. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) 

The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Usc the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. You may email 

your request to: /\NE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this /\0, contact Kathcryn Malatek, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, F /\/\, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, M/\ 0 1803; phone: 781-238-7747; fax : 78 1-238-

7199; emai I: katheryn.malatek@faa.gov. 

(2) PW ASB No. PW4G-1 00-A 73-44, dated October I 0, 20 14, which is not 

incorporated by reference, can be obtained from Pratt & Whitney using the contact 

infonnation in paragraph 0)(3) of this proposed rule. 

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(3) For service information identified in this proposed rule, contact Pratt & 

Whitney, 400 Main St., East Ha1tforcl, CT 06 I 08; phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-

4503. 

(4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 

Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 10,2015. 

Ann C. Mollica, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

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